For decades, Ann Arbor has been defined by its artists, creators and innovators—from the artwork they create to the green practices they put to work and everything in between. Through the work of our residential designers and architects, this passion for aesthetic and creativity can be brought to life inside our most precious spaces: our homes.

And in this guide, we’re writing about our favorite local designers and artists who are doing just that. Get ready for a healthy dose of home inspiration!

Established in 1989 by Bradford and Theresa Angelini, Angelini & Associates Architects has been Ann Arbor’s high-quality, innovative and award-winning architecture firm for three decades. Through those decades, the team has produced designs for more than 500 projects, including additions, renovations and new constructions in the Ann Arbor area and throughout Michigan. To view their online portfolio, click here.

The team behind Architectural Resource knows how important our living spaces are, and they have since they first came together in 1991. From the beginning, they decided to focus exclusively on residential architecture so they would continuously get the opportunity to work closely and intimately with clients and create those essential spaces. This has resulted in some of the region’s most beautiful homes featuring everything from historic Victorian remodels to brand new, sustainable and modern farmhouses.

At Damian Farrell Design Group, they have expertise and experience in nearly every field from residential and commercial to niche industries like resorts and healthcare facilities. In the commercial space, they’ve been responsible for bright, modern and innovative Ann Arbor spaces like Baba Dari Mediterranean Grill and Ann Arbor Arms. And this translates to their residential projects, too, which show off their diversity of skills and styles; you can see that portfolio here.

The team behind Hobbs+Black believes in showcasing the identity of each individual client, not the identity of their designers. As a result, they don’t have a defined style, but rather use more than 50 years of experience to dabble in every style and create truly one-of-a-kind spaces each client is happy to live, work and play in. And that experience has covered nearly every industry, from the Westgate Branch of Ann Arbor District Library to unique residential projects throughout the region.

At LGA, the team specializes in both residential and commercial building types, including single-family and multi-family housing, community and civic buildings as well as professional and medical office spaces. Through these diverse experiences, they’ve created award-winning projects, including their winning design for the Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Lansing. The team’s residential portfolio also showcases diverse styles in new construction, full remodels, kitchen and bath remodels, and even stylish outdoor living spaces. To view some of these projects online, click here.

Shown in each of their buildings and mentioned in nearly every review, Meadowlark homes are truly one of a kind and easy to spot for their craft, unique character, innovation and warmth. And that makes sense coming from a team dedicated not only to building our most intimate spaces but also to improving their clients’ lives. The best part is Meadowlark is also one of the nation’s leading green builders, and they hold more LEED Platinum custom home certifications than any other builder in the region!

In 2000, William Meier AIA founded Meier Group Architects with the goal of creating a firm where he and his team could provide excellent architectural design service for a variety of project types. Today, they’ve become one of the best in the region thanks to their beautiful structures that are functional, aesthetic, affective, enduring and efficient all at once. To view their residential portfolio, click here.

Based in the Water Hill neighborhood of Ann Arbor, Molly Bachelor is an Ann Arbor native and a graduate of the University of Michigan. Her services include full-service architectural design, residential energy consulting and interiors, which has allowed her to create high-performance renovations and additions as well as stunning custom homes throughout the area. To preview some of that work online, click here.

When you look through this firm’s online portfolio, you’ll probably recognize some of Ann Arbor’s most beloved spaces, including Black Diesel Coffee and Tomukun Korean BBQ. Rooted in the true integration of architecture, design and game-changing technologies, these spaces—and every other residential and commercial project they touch—are collaborative, innovative, cost-efficient and high-tech. To see that applied to residential projects, view their portfolio here.

An authority in preservation and sustainable stewardship, QEA was founded as a two-man studio in 1984. Over the years, it has grown into a thriving, multi-faceted firm with four full-service offices in Washington, DC, Baltimore, Ann Arbor, Detroit, and Richmond, Virginia, as well as a studio in Madison, Wisconsin. Here in Ann Arbor, their specialty in preservation has made them especially noted for work with historic homes.

This nationally recognized, award-winning design-build firm, has been delivering innovative remodeling solutions since 1989. Through their specialization in mid to large residential remodeling and home additions, they’ve created truly transformative spaces (and amazing before and after photos!) that reflect each individual client’s lifestyle without sacrificing function or aesthetic. And it helps that this team—including founding partner Gary Rochman—is driven by the relationships developed with each and every client, so the journey is as enjoyable as the finished product.

The team at Studio Z is driven by their commitment to designing and building one-of-a-kind homes that match each client’s personality, lifestyle and functional needs. In addition to a huge catalog of happy clients, they also won awards and national recognition for these builds here in Southeast Michigan and beyond. To view some of those online, check out their portfolio here.

Synecdoche is a small, start-up-style design/make architecture studio and the team uses this to their advantage to create quickly, nimbly and efficiently. This has also resulted in a unique style that can be spotted at places around town like Bløm Meadworks, Thrive Juicery, Spencer and Ann Arbor Pharmacy. In the residential space, you’ll find a similar playfulness and a modern aesthetic that includes individual furniture and designs created right in their studio. Click here to see some of those pieces—from pivot doors to rolling counters and everything in between.

One of the area’s most recognized firms, Wright Street Design does absolutely everything in the residential design space: new, custom homes, full renovations, additions, kitchen and bath remodels, home theaters, outdoor living spaces, custom furniture, and even green architecture. And they’ve been doing it since Stanley Monroe founded Wright Street Design Group in 1986. To view their online portfolio, click here.

Do you have a favorite?

Whether they’re on this list or not, tell us about your experience in the comments below!

Autumn is associated with the changing of leaves and temperature. For homeowners, there are also changes that need to be made to prepare their homes for the upcoming winter. These four tips will get you on the way to preparing your home for Autumn.

Clean and Reverse FansYour ceiling fans have been hard at work all summer so they may have gathered more dust than you realize. Turn your fans off, and clean the sides, tops and bottoms of the blades. Reverse your fans so the blades send air upward to disrupt the warm air that collects near the ceiling and disperse it downward. This is particularly effective in rooms with high or vaulted ceilings and rooms with stoves or fireplaces.

Clean Window TreatmentsUse a cordless hand-held vacuum to remove dust from hanging window treatments. If you have hanging curtains, take them down for a gentle launder. While they’re down, clean your windows and sills thoroughly.Vacuum and Clean Furniture Vacuum your upholstered furniture, and spot-clean the big stains as needed. Always test an inconspicuous area of your couch before applying any cleaning agent to a main area.

Seal the Air LeaksCheck your windows and doors for damaged weather stripping and cracked caulking, and make repairs as needed.

Ceiling fixtures for your dining room or kitchen can be expensive. If you are looking for a less expensive alternative why not try to make your own? We first found this beautiful and rustic chandelier created by Darbin Orvar on Instructables.com. It is perfect for a dining room, kitchen or anywhere you want to shed a little light.

For this project you will need:

10 bulb string lights

4 Wooden Boards

Thin Steel Cable

Cable Ferrules

Eye Hooks

Lamp Switch

Lamp Cord

Step 1: The Lights and the Wood

Start by planning out the design – how large do you want your chandelier to be? In the example, two boards were connected for the width, and in terms of the lights, there is a rather random distribution of the bulbs. You can lay yours out however you would like.

Step 2: Cut to Size

To add a border around the edge, cut one board in half. Then cut the main boards to size and cut mitered corners for the border pieces.

Step 3: Holes and Connecting

To make the holes for the bulbs use a 1-inch spade bit. To connect the two boards together use pocket screws and glue. For the border, propped the pieces up a little, to make a lip. Then it is easy to secure the border evenly with some glue and the nail gun – and this is a really simple way to connect everything.

Step 4: Finishing

If you want to seal the wood, use a water based polyurethane. You can also paint some of the wood in white. The white side will secure to the ceiling.

Step 5: Steel Cables

Now, connect the main box to the white board with steel cables, and use some eye hooks to secure the corners. Add some extra lamp wire to make the string light cord longer, and if you’re not comfortable doing this step, then get someone to help you.

To connect it all, pull the steel wire through the hook, attach two hooks to the white board and pull it through, and then going through all the corners until they’re all connected. To secure the cable in the corners, use the crimpers and make a loop, which can’t go through the hook.

Step 6: Setting It UpNext, take the light strip sockets and push them through the holes. Also, secure the wire with some fasteners, so they won’t pop up and be visible. Attach the board to studs in the ceiling, and then simply screw in the bulbs.

Updating light fixtures in a master bedroom can make a huge difference on the look and feel of the room. While looking at the different lighting options consider adding a ceiling fan. Ceiling fans effectively circulate the air in a room to create a draft throughout the room. If you use air conditioning, a ceiling fan will help you save energy. Turning on the fan lets you raise the thermostat setting about 4°F and still stay cool.

Replacing an existing light fixture with a fan is a simple, one-day task. Before you start it is important to know that you can’t hang a fan from the existing electrical box. You must either use a specially rated hanger and box to mount the fan between joists or, screw a fan-rated “pancake” box directly to a ceiling joist. Learn the steps to ceiling fan installation below.

Shopping List

Fan-rated 1/2-inch-deep pancake box

Medallion (made of rigid foam, not plaster, which may crack)

Fan blades

Fan motor

Light-fixture housing

Lamp shades

Down rod, canopy, and ceiling plate (all included in fan kit)

Remote-control transmitter with 9v battery

Twist-on wire connectors

Caulk or spackling compond (for filling nail holes in medallion)

6D finish nails (for attaching medallion to ceiling)

Latex paint or acrylic spray (optional)

Instructions

1. Turn off power at breaker
After you turn off the power mark it with a DO NOT TURN BACK ON sign. Use circuit tester to make sure power is off to old fixture.

2. Remove old fixture.
Unscrew the nuts or screws holding the current fixture to the ceiling. Lower the fixture and disconnect the wires by twisting off the plastic connectors from the ends of the wires.

3. Remove the box and cut a new whole.
Before starting this step get your vacuum cleaner ready. Remove the old electrical box from the ceiling. If it’s nailed to a joist, pry it free with a flat bar. If it’s suspended from a bar, you may have to take off a metal plate to unscrew the box; then pry the bar from the joists. While doing this have your assistant use the vacuum cleaner wand to suck up debris

Hold a 1/2-inch-thick pancake box against the ceiling, centered on a joist, and trace around it with a pencil. Cut along the line with a drywall saw. Clean with the vacuum after you saw.

4. Install new, heavy-duty electrical box.
Feed the electrical cable coming from the ceiling through the knockout hole in the pancake box. (Be sure there’s a cable connector attached to the knockout hole.)

Set the box into the hole cut through the ceiling and press it tight against the underside of the joist.Attach the box to the joist with the two 1 1/2-inch No. 10 hex-head screws provided. Drive in the screws with a drill/driver equipped with a 5/16-inch nut-driver tip.

Wrap the cable’s bare copper wire around the grounding screw inside the box. Allow the wire end to hang down.

5. Attach new ceiling medallion
Apply a small bead of urethane-based adhesive to the back of the ceiling medallion.
Pass the wires through the medallion. Center the medallion on the pancake box and press. Fasten it with four 6d finishing nails driven into the joist. Set the nail heads and fill with caulk or spackle.

6. Mount the Ceiling Plate
If you want to paint medallion paint it before installing the ceiling paint. Hold the fan’s metal ceiling plate up to the pancake box and pull the wires through its center hole.

Attach the ceiling plate to the box with two 1 1/2-inch-long 10-32 machine screws.

7. Assemble the Fan
With the fan on the floor, feed the wires coming from the motor through the center of the canopy. Set the canopy on top of the motor. If pipe’s threads have a factory-applied coating. Don’t remove this coating; it keeps the pipe from unscrewing. Next, pass the wires through the hollow down-rod pipe.

Thread the down-rod pipe into the top of the motor. Use a wrench to tighten the square-head locking screw on the side of the pipe.

8. Connect the Wires
Hook one side of the canopy onto the ceiling plate.Using twist-on wire connectors, join the two green wires to the bare copper wire coming from the cable. (If your room is wired differently from the one shown here, consult a licensed electrician.)

Join the two white wires. Then connect the two black wires. Swing the fan up into position against the medallion and secure it with the two canopy screws.

9. Add Blades and Lights
Attach each fan blade to a blade iron (the bracket that holds the blade to the fan). Then, fasten the blade irons to the motor with the screws provided. Plug the fan’s light-fixture housing into the wire hanging from the underside of the fan’s motor.

Install the shades and lightbulbs. Screw the plastic holder for the remote control to the wall beside the wall switch.

10. Restore power.
After you do a final check to make sure things are secure, turn back on the power. Test out the light and fan.

Looking to add some magic to your Halloween? These quick and easy costumes will dress-up your Halloween.

Dora the ExplorerEverybody wants to go explore with Dora. This costume only requires a pink shirt, orange shorts, backpack, and sneakers. A short brown bob wig will help finish off the look.

Ghost

This is a Halloween classic that requires only a white sheet with some eye wholes cut out.

Gnome

Whether large or small a gnome is a fun costume for all.Get a long-sleeved shirt, belt, dark denim jeans, and felt and cardboard to make the hat.

Nerd

Want to increase your IQ for the night? Try dressing up as a lovable nerd. Wear a pair of glasses and stick a bandage in the middle to add authenticity. Wear suspenders or bowtie if you have them, or pull your pants or skirt up high and tuck your shirt into it. If you wear a button up shirt with a pocket consider adding pens and a pocket protector as finishing touches.

Swedish Chef

Want to play a television chef? There is none better than The Muppet Show’s Swedish chef. This requires a white chef hat, red bow tie, and white button-down shirt. Make sure to cut use fake hair for the bangs and mustache.Tweedledee and Tweedledum

The time has come to be Tweedledee and Tweedledum
This signature look requires a red cap, red pants, red suspenders, blue blows, and white cloth for the collars.

Waldo and Wenda

This is a great costume for a large party that also works a great as a couple’s costume. Start with red and white striped shirt, than add red and white cap, black round-rimmed glasses, and a pair of jeans.

Outdoor fire pits provide a place to gather with family and friends, roast marshmallows, and snack on s’mores. If you want to enjoy your evenings next to a fire, consider this weekend DIY project.

Lowe’s designed a simple and fast system for a fire pit with a ring of concrete blocks surrounding a steel fire pit bowl with a cover. Removable fire pit bowls make cleaning easier. Do not build this design on a deck. A metal poker is recommended to move and adjust wood in the pit for an optimum fire.

Before Building

Step 1
Check with any local ordinances or homeowners’ association guidelines to see if fire pits are permitted. Some regulations don’t allow them, while others require that they be located at least a specific distance away from structures or property lines (typically 20 feet).

Step 2
Select a convenient and safe location. Make sure that it’s in an open area away from the house, low tree limbs or anything else that could catch fire. If possible, have it near your woodpile for convenience.

Step 3
Place a small flag at the selected location, and check it periodically over a few days to determine the wind direction. You don’t want smoke blowing in your windows.

Begin Building

Step 1Gather the materials and tools you’ll need for this job. Once gathered, construction of the fire pit should only take an hour or two at the most.

Step 2Assemble the fire pit screen cover, and place it on the patio to mark the center of the fire pit. This step will help you determine the size of the fire pit ring.

Step 3
Place the first layer of blocks around the cover, making sure all the joints between blocks are tight. The example project has 16 blocks in each layer. Mortar isn’t used.

Step 4
Remove the cover and set it aside for now.

Step 5
Install the second layer of blocks on top of the completed first layer, staggering the joints between the blocks to strengthen the wall.

Step 6
Install the third, then the fourth layer of blocks, staggering the joints.

Step 7Install the fire pit tray — without the legs — in the ring.Step 8Install the fire pit grate.

You are now ready to enjoy your fire pit throughout the summer and into the fall.

While we usually associate Thanksgiving with the delicious food, don’t forget the fun that comes from creating home-made holiday decorations. These five simple DIY crafts will keep children engaged, delight your guest, and revitalize your home with minimal effort.

Summer is coming to an end. With September quickly approaching, now is a great time to finish those yard projects on your to-do list. One of the most common tasks homeowners put off is sealing or staining their decks. Decks that are not cleaned and sealed will rot or warp and have a shortened life.

Step 1: Sweep Deck and Clear Cracks
To clean and properly seal a deck, first sweep the all leaves, twigs, dirt off the top. Pay particular attention to the spaces between boards. Leaves rest on the joists, eventually rotting the boards. Use a putty knife to clean the crevices.

Step 2: Scrub the Wood
Clean the surface of the wood. There are several products on the market, make sure you use a product that works with the type of wood on your deck. Scrub the deck according to the directions.

For larger areas, rent or purchase a pressure washer. Spray cleaning mixture on the boards first and let it soak in for a while before pressure washing. Make sure you cover up shrubs and plants before you start spraying bleach.

Step 3: Apply Stain or Sealer
Once your deck is clean, apply a redwood stain or a waterproofing deck sealer, which will repel water and make the deck last longer. To apply the sealer, purchase a pad with a little reservoir and brush it on. Or use a foam roller. Go over the entire deck surface with the sealer